Librarians administer library materials in a variety of settings, including not only public libraries but also schools and colleges, government organizations, museums, law organizations and health care organizations. Librarians classify and organize new materials, shelve returned materials, lend patrons books and other materials and assist library patrons conducting research across a variety of media. A master's degree in library science is usually required for this job.

Librarians administer library materials in a variety of settings, including not only public libraries but also schools and colleges, government organizations, museums, law organizations and health care organizations. Librarians classify and organize new materials, shelve returned materials, lend patrons books and other materials and assist library patrons conducting research across a variety of media. A master's degree in library science is usually required for this job.

Salary and Wage Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that librarians earned an average salary of $57,020 a year as of May 2011, the equivalent of about $27.41 an hour. The median reported salary for librarians was $55,300, and the median-earning half of librarians working in the United States reported salaries ranging from $43,690 to $69,260. As of 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 26 percent of librarians were part-time workers.

Salaries by State

By state, the highest salary for librarians in 2011 was reported by the District of Columbia, where librarians earned an average of $71,630 a year. Maryland reported the second-highest average pay, $68,310. California ranked third at $68,270, followed by Connecticut at $66,410 and New Jersey at $64,060. South Dakota paid librarians the lowest average salary in the nation, $38,950 a year. Idaho offered the second-lowest salary, $39,360.

Salary by Industry

The federal government was on average the highest-paying employer of librarians in 2011, paying an average of $80,170 a year. Those who worked in law libraries averaged $68,750 a year, and librarians in physician's offices averaged $67,830. Librarians who worked in elementary and secondary schools averaged $59,190, those employed by colleges and universities averaged $61,590, and those employed by junior colleges averaged $61,870. Librarians employed by local governments, such as those at public libraries, reported an average income of $51,140 a year.

Occupational Outlook

While the American economy is expected to show an average rate of 14 percent growth between 2010 and 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment among librarians will proceed at 7 percent, just half the average rate of overall job growth. This is largely because the general population is becoming more adept at conducting research through electronic sources. As a result, competition for the few available librarian positions is expected to be very strong, especially at the beginning of the next decade.

2016 Salary Information for Librarians

Librarians earned a median annual salary of $57,680 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, librarians earned a 25th percentile salary of $45,060, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $72,780, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 138,200 people were employed in the U.S. as librarians.